ReseaRch Quality assuRance foR the futuRe a ... - Lund University

Panel 12 – science bio/geo
Productivity: Excellent-outstanding.
Relevance: Outstanding; Lund’s research in this exciting new research
field has gained substantial international interest; unique
research niche.
Vitality: Outstanding; a relatively small group that has significant input
to the international science agenda; ranked in the top 2%
of all science disciplines by the Swedish Research Council.
Evolution of the biosphere
Quality:
Excellent; Lund has a long history of research in this field
extending back to the 19th Century. The emphasis of the
research has shifted in recent years away from more traditional
palaeontological and taxonomic activities to a more
integrated Earth System science approach.
Productivity: Excellent–outstanding; high-quality outputs (over 100
publications in international journals since 2003) and a
good record of PhD theses (7).
Relevance:
Vitality:
Outstanding; essential to understanding the Deep Time
aspects of environmental change
Excellent; exciting renaissance and revitalisation of a core
research strength of the department; strong international
collaboration.
Timing of break-up and assembly of continents
Quality: Excellent; this represents one of the traditional strengths
of the Geology department in Lund. Although some of
the strong research leaders in this field now have Emeritus
status they continue to publish prolifically.
Productivity: Good (50 papers), especially with regards to PhD theses(6).
This is an interdisciplinary research area.
Relevance: Good–excellent; provides fundamental understanding of
the evolution of the Earth; However, whilst there remains
important research to be done, this type of research is
receiving less attention internationally and will become
increasingly difficult to fund. Much of the work described
will provide incremental additions to the knowledge-base
but is unlikely to lead to paradigm shifts.
Vitality: Good; although there are a number of senior academic
staff in this area whose research can be categorised as fairly
traditional.
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